Adjustably positionable shelf for cribs



Feb. 7, 1956 c. N. STUART ET AL ADJUSTABLY POSITIONABLE SHELF Filed Jan. 12, 1955 FOR CRIBS A TTORNEY.

United States Patent ADJUSTABLY POSITIONABLE SHELF FOR CRIBS Charles N. Stuart and Norma E. Stuart, Chicago, Iii.

Application January 12, 1953, Serial No. 330,776 9 Claims. (Cl. -317) Our invention relates to crib attachments. An important object of our invention is to provide a shelf-like means which may be adjustably positioned and attached to a conventional crib structure, so that it will support thereon the infants clothes or the crib clothes or bedding when making up the crib or when dressing and undressing the infant using the crib.

Another object of our invention is to provide a shelflike support of the aforementioned character which may be set up to horizontal or operative position or may be adjusted to dependent or vertical position when in inoperative position, or when not in use.

A further object of our invention is to provide an attachment of the aforementioned character which is provided, or equipped, with bracket means that is slidably and adjustably mounted on the guide rod of the crib on which the gate of the crib is usually slidably mounted.

A further object of our invention is to provide a structure of the aforementioned character wherein extended ear means operating in concert with ledge means, or shoulder means, on the shelf supporting bracket means will permit setting the shelf-like structure in vertical, dependent or inoperative position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a shelflike structure of the aforementioned character, which is attachable to a conventional crib unit, and which may be manufactured economically in quantity production.

Other objects and advantages inherent in our invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further exposition in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a conventional crib structure, with our invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one corner of the crib structure showing the elemental arrangement of parts comprising our invention.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, indicating the shelf element in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the shelf-like element in horizontal or operative position by virtue of the screw support means, or screw adjusting means, provided therefor.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 in reduced scale, showing its relationship with the remainder of the bracket structure supporting the shelf bracket element or means.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the shelf supporting bracket means when looking at the same from below the shelflike element 28, illustrated in Fig. 2.

1' Referring to the various views, a, crib structure is generally designated 7, having its movable gate 8 to facilitate removing the infant therefrom or placing the infant therein. The said gate 8 operates slidably by virtue of guide bores 11, on the guide rods 9, which have end hook portions secured to the legs of the crib structure.

The said guide rods 9 are utilized for attaching our invention, generally designated 7.

The structure comprising our invention consists of an 2,733,455 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 2 adjustably mounted slide bracket designated 12 having an extension 13 to which is secured a tie rod 29, by virtue of locknut 30.

Thus, the brackets 12 on both ends supporting the shelf are attached together. Hence, the pairs of brackets 12 may be motivated in unison to the proper position by virtue of the bores 15 therein, which permit mounting the same slidably and adjustably on 'the guide rod 9. When a suitable position is attained then the knurled head screws 14 are locked in position to impinge on the guide rod 9, and thus hold the brackets 12 in horizontal alignment, and in a fixed position;

To the brackets 12 are attached props or supporting rods 16, which are secured to an intermediate bracket 17, which supports articulately connected thereto by virtue of its boss 18, the bifurcated extension 19, which has one longer portion 21, and which is articulatfely secured by means of the pivot pin 20, to hold the shelf-like element 28 which in turn is secured to the shelf supporting bracket extension 26 by means of screws 27.

The bracket 17 is provided with a cut-out portion in 7 When the threaded section 23 is retracted into the threaded opening 25, so that the conical portion 24 will clear the support rod 16, then the shelf may be folded to its inoperative or dependent position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The entire structure, as can be seen by virtue of the adjustable mounting backets 12, may be moved to an altitude which is even with the top surface of the gate, or below the top surface of the gate 8, or it may be moved to a position above the confines of the gate 8, and articles are placed thereon, such as perhaps the bedding equipment of the crib when it has to be removed to be straightened or cleaned or rearranged, or the infants clothes when dressing and undressing the infant using the crib.

The shelf when not in use, by virtue of the wing screws 22, may be set to inoperative position, so as not to interfere with the movement of the infant confined therein, in other words, the shelf may be set out of the way, or out of reach, of the infant confined within the crib.

The shelf-like element 28 will also serve as protection to the gate element, so that the infant will not have access thereto, and accidentally move the gate, thereby endangering the position of the infant, who might fall out of the crib under those conditions.

In attaching our invention to a conventional crib structure, the brackets 12 are slidably mounted at first on the guide rods 9, and then are attached in pairs by means of rods 29 and locknuts 30 to the extensions 13 of the brackets 12.

The rods 16 are then driven into place and the brackets 17 mounted thereon, which are articulately assembled to the brackets 26. Thus, the entire structure is in relative position for use, and the knurled head screws 14 are set to any desirable position within the range of adjustment afforded by the guide rods 9, so that the ledge element 28 may be set to horizontal or vertical position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, or may be positioned at various altitudes within the confines of the crib or thereabove, and outside of the confines of the crib structure proper.

While the invention has been herein described in its preferred form it is to be understood that it is not limited to the specific construction herein shown and that it may be practiced in other forms Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described and revealed our invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A crib shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and extending inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracket means being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracket means being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the said supporting bracket extensions and positioned interiorly of the said crib, intermediate brackets secured to the top end portions of the said supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extensions articulately secured to the said intermediate brackets, and a shelf-like element rigidly secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions.

3. A crib shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and extending inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracketmeans being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the said supporting bracket extensions and positioned interiorly of the said crib, intermediate brackets secured to the top end portions of the said supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extension articulately secured to the said intermediate brackets, and wing screw means secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions and adapted to retain the same in horizontal position.

4. A crib shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and extending inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the same slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracket means being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the said supporting bracket extensions and positioned interiorly of the said crib, intermediate brackets secured to the top end portions of the said supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extensions articulately secured to the said intermediate brackets, a shelf-like element rigidly secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions, and wing screw means secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions and adapted to retain the same in horizontal position.

5. A crub shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and extending inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracket means being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the said supporting bracket extensions and positioned interiorly of the said crib, intermediate brackets secured to the top end portions of thesaid supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extensions articulately secured to the saidintermediate brackets, andwing. screw means secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions and adapted to retain the same in horizontal position, the said wing screw means being provided with conical tip means engaging releasably the outer surface of the said supporting rods.

6. A crib shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and extending inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, the said slide bracket means being provided with bracket extensions supporting rods secured to the said supporting bracket extensions and positioned interiorly of the said crib, intermediate brackets secured to the top end portions of the said supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extensions articulately secured to the said intermediate brackets, a shelf-like element rigidly secured to the said shelf supporting. bracket extensions, and wing screw means secured to the said shelf supporting bracket extensions and adapted to retain the same in horizontal position, the said wingscrew means being provided with conical tip means engaging releasably the outer surface of the said supporting rods.

7. In combination, a conventional crib provided with a gate slidably mounted on. guide rods, and a crib shelf attachment secured slidably and adjustably to the said guide rods, the said crib attachment being positioned substantially entirely within the confines of the said crib.

8. In combination, a conventional crib provided with a gate slidably mounted on guide rods, and a crib shelf attachment secured slidably and adjustably to the said guide rods, the said crib shelf attachment being positioned substantially entirely within the confines of the said crib, the said crib shelf attachment having a shelf-like element articulately secured thereto and adapted to be retained in horizontal operative position, and further adapted to be retained in vertical inoperative position being operative entirely within the interior confines of said crib.

9. A crib shelf attachment, comprising slide bracket means slidably and adjustably mounted and provided with extensions reaching inwardly of the crib confines, lock screw means provided on the said slide bracket means for securing the same in fixed position, supporting rods secured to the said extensions, intermediate brackets secured to the top ends of said supporting rods, shelf supporting bracket extensions articulately secured to said intermediate brackets, and a shelf element rigidly secured to said shelf supporting bracket extensions, the said slide bracket means adapted to maintain the gate of said crib protected against accidental opening thereof.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

